George’s outing at Trooping the Colour comes ahead of a big announcement for the future king
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NEED TO KNOW
- Prince George let out a sneeze just as the national anthem wrapped up during Trooping the Colour
- Kate Middleton shared a laugh with her eldest son about the moment on the Buckingham Palace balcony
- George’s outing at King Charles’ birthday parade comes ahead of a major announcement for the future monarch
Prince George and Kate Middleton shared a laugh on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour.
The British royal family stepped out on Saturday, June 13, for the public celebration of King Charles’ birthday, concluding the day’s festivities with a gathering on the palace balcony to watch a flypast.
After the planes soared overhead, the royals stood at attention while the national anthem played. However, as seen in a video shared on social media by The Telegraph, 12-year-old Prince George appeared to suppress a sneeze as the final notes played.
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As soon as the song wrapped, Prince George covered his nose and mouth with his hands as he let out the sneeze. He then shared a laugh over the moment with his mother, Princess Kate, who then said something to him as she put a hand on his back.
Earlier in the day’s activities, the Princess of Wales, 44, was also seen sneezing during the military display at Horse Guards Parade.
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Prince George — along with his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8 — is an experienced pro at Trooping the Colour, having attended the staple on the royal family’s calendar since he was a baby.
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William and Kate brought their eldest son out for his balcony debut over a decade ago at his first Trooping the Colour in 2015. Just weeks ahead of his second birthday, the prince was held by his father as he showed off his royal wave and pointed at the planes going by.
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Prince George’s outing at Trooping the Colour comes ahead of a big announcement for the future king: where he’ll attend school in the fall.
There’s been no official announcement of where George will attend college, but Eton College (where Prince William attended) and Marlborough College (Princess Kate’s alma mater) are widely considered to be the frontrunners. While Eton is an all-boys school, Marlborough’s co-educational environment would allow both Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to attend alongside their older brother someday.
If he follows previous generations of royals, Prince George will be boarding, or living at his new school full-time.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales are slowly introducing their children to royal events and duties, with a palace insider previously telling PEOPLE about their careful approach, especially when it comes to future monarch Prince George.
“It’s a massive balancing act,” the source said. “William and Kate are doing the right thing, protecting him so he can have as normal a childhood as possible, but he’s also dipping into duties as a future monarch. He’s getting firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a royal and a monarch and firsthand experience of being a normal boy.”
